Conservative Party Leadership Election: What Is The 1922 Committee?

Andrea Leadsom has quit the Conservative Party leadership election, leaving Theresa May as the only remaining candidate in the race to become the next Prime Minister.

It is the job of the 1922 Committee to present the Tory party with candidates – with the winner, voted for by members, announced as leader.

Its own rules that, “If there is only one candidate at the time laid down for the close of nominations, that candidate shall be declared Leader of the Party.”

However, given Leadsom’s unusual step to withdraw at this stage, all eyes on the committee for clarification.

But what exactly is the 1922 Committee?

Also known as “the 22”, the group is a committee of all backbench Conservative MPs that meets weekly when the Commons is sitting.

Its primary function is inform the party of the backbenchers’ mood.

Its chair – since 2015, Graham Brady – is elected by committee members. Cheryl Gillan and Charles Walker are its vice chairs.

It takes its name from a meeting of Conservative MPs in October 1922 – which ended the party’s coalition government with the Liberals.

Although the rules are subject to interpretation from Conservative party itself, Brady has released a statement.

“Following the decision of Mrs Andrea Leadsom to withdraw from the Conservative leadership contest the Right Honourable Theresa May is the only remaining candidate, the process is now that I as chair of the 1922 committee and the board of the Conservative party must formally confirm that Mrs May is the new leader of the Conservative party.

“I will make a further statement as soon as I am in a position to do so.”

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